Duck March

This year we spent Spring Break in Arkansas. We thought about going to one of those popular places, like Florida or Cancun. But we like to be different, so we got in the car and drove to Little Rock. It was just as well since Brad had work to do there anyway.

Little Rock is actually a nice little city with plenty to keep kids busy for a few days. We visited a science museum and a kids play center. We thought about going to the zoo, but Susanna got hurt at the play center (not sure how, exactly, but she hit her mouth and there was a bit of blood...) So we'll do the zoo next time. It was also fun to eat in some of the restaurants Brad frequents during his many trips there, and of course I had to find the local cupcake bakery.

We stayed at the Peabody. There are three Peabody Hotels - the original in Memphis, one in Orlando, and this one. This in itself was a big highlight as they have ducks swimming in the lobby fountain.

The Duck March is a big daily event. At 11 a.m., the ducks are brought down the elevator, and then they march through the lobby a bit and hop into the fountain.

Then at five, they do it all in reverse. We decided to hang out and follow the ducks all the way back to their little house, which is located on a 2nd floor patio. I'm not sure if people are supposed to be invited to do this as it was just us and another family with slightly older kids. But they let my kids help push the wagon.

They pushed (while the older kids pulled) the duck trolley all the way outside, and then stood by the duck house for a photo op. Then the cage was opened and the ducks scurried right into their house.
We learned that only one of the ducks has a name, and its John Philip Duck. Not sure if that is a particular duck, though. There is a book by this title, but we are still waiting to get it from the school library. Then we can read all about the history of this fun tradition.